Friday, October 31, 2008

Norwegian death metallers BLOOD RED THRONE are currently hard at work ontheir next, as-yet-untitled album.

Guitarist Død comments:

"We're currently workin' on our fifth studio album, and so far we got 9killer tracks. Expect some heavy shit, some fast and brutal shit and forthose of you missing solos on previous albums, a lot of cool leads! We'rewaiting for a green signal and then we'll enter Studio Deadline in Sweden,makin' our best album ever!"

BLOOD RED THRONE's follow-up to 2007's COME DEATH is tentatively due to bereleased in May 2009 through Earache Records.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

As evidenced by BONDED BY BLOOD singer Jose "Aladdin" Barrales' end of tour wrap up, the band's first EVER European tour with GAMA BOMB and SWORN AMONGST was a hangover-fueled, puked-up, broken-necked hell of a time that will no doubt go down as a monumental moment in thrash history for years to come - that is if it can be remembered after all of the beers that were downed:

"Hello all my blood brothers and sisters..

Here is a tour recap of all that went down that i can remember on a day to day basis.

34 shows almost all back to back and it was fucking fun

let me take you on a journey you wont forget a tale of a faithful trip

its a bone chiller so it is...

Sep 9th:I start off the day with a shower a piss and a look at my face and its off to the airport (LAX) with the bandmates to go on our jolly 13 hr airplane ride to London.We get dropped off in Terminal B British Airlines Flight 269. 13 hrs later we arrive at our destination LONDON!!. There is one problem, they dont let us in. Something about a work permit and us being brown. Finally after a hour of sitting there we get through and its off the the tour bus/house. We finally meet the Gama Dudes and they are buying donuts. On our way to Germany long ride so we get drunk and call it a day.

Well i was going to go day by day but i will just put pictures up because pics speak louder than words..

I just have 2 list to list..

a fuck yeah list and a fuck you list you know the drill...

Fuck yeah to:All the countries we played inGermanyAustriaSloveniaItalyFranceSpainPortugalBelgiumNetherlandsSwedenEnglandTo all the beer we drankto all the Tequila and Rum and JeygiTo The GAMA BOMB Dudes for being great fucking peopleMorgan the sex machineMartin the tour managereveryone at Earache.Olivia at the Crobar in Londondudes in Sworn amongstBlack Metal VenuesAustrian AccentsAll the Latinos we met in Europe.(mostly Mexicans, we are everywhere)Italian PizzaNude Beaches in BarcelonaSkinny dipping in Barcelona with Gama BombCrazy Moshpits and Crowd surfingbackstage showersPortugal SkatersFrench MaidsBelgium Street parties with really hot chicksBelgium Fries or ChipsTrenchfootEat my FuckSwedish Hot Rod clubsSwedish Rockabilly girlsDr Living DeadWeed in the netherlandsDude with the mind pollution tatRed Light districtsPorn shopsSplooshBoratTeam AmericaAll zombie movies watchedPorn with dude and his boilRuben always being drunkRuben dancing

Fuck You to:Angry Bus driversPeople stealing your foodSmelling like dick and assJoe's feetMorgans Anal AttackGetting punched in the ballsNo BeerWarm BeerGarlic ShotsChili ShotsEndless amount of penis and man ass we sawSaggy old lady titsChris putting robs dick in his mouthNo AC for about 2 weeksgetting a coldsweaty ballsdogs taking shits on ladiessalamiFall Out Boy fuck off you cuntsAlex vomit on my shoesdirty underwear on peoples neckssandwiches on the planeno sexanal intrudersjizz on bunkssecret wankscyber sexand much much more

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Irish thrashers GAMA BOMB recently spent over a month storming their wayacross Europe on the Thrashing Like A Maniac tour along with LA shreddersBONDED BY BLOOD and UK openers SWORN AMONGST.

After tearing it up in every corner of Europe, the bands are now home andhave had some time to recover and to look back at their recent journey.

GAMA BOMB frontman PHILLY BYRNE comments on the tour:

"We've finally reached the end of our European tour with Bonded By Blood andSworn Amongst, which took in 34 shows in 11 countries, 40,000 miles on theclock in a tourbus with 18 people aboard, chugging through something like180 litres of diesel over the course of five weeks and five days. Along theway there were torn ligaments, damaged vocal chords, a suspected broken assbone, about 12 cases of the common cold, a few outbreaks of alcoholpoisoning and more bruises, cuts, scrapes and mysterious injuries than wecare to count.

"We played in two haunted clubs, complete with a ghost that didn't want usto use the shower, a former Greek restaurant with murals of the Parthenon, abiker-controlled backstreet bar, a black metal meeting house, a classic carworkshop, a converted slaughterhouse, dockside pubs, a couple of youthclubs, drug dens, shit holes and palaces too. We're not clear on how manyguitar strings we used, but it pales in comparison to the amount of beers wedrank. Also, we have no idea how many people we played to, but it wasexcellent all the same, as we're starting to meet people who wear our shirtsto the show. Nice."

GAMA BOMB will be back on tour in Europe in 2009, but you can keep yourselfthrashing through the Winter with the band's Earache Records debut album,CITIZEN BRAIN, available now from all good music retailers, or from theEarache Webstore at http://www.earacheshop.com/store/gamabomb.html

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

ORDER OF ENNEAD guitarist/vocalist, Kevin Quirion was recently interviewed by Thrash Magazine about all things regarding the band's explosive self-tittled debut which hits the states on November 11th. Many bases were covered including the roles of each unique personality within ORDER OF ENNEAD, what it was like to work with producer Mark Lewis, their upcoming date with MUNICIPAL WASTE and much more.

Kevin Quirion on some of the things that make ORDER OF ENNEAD stand out from most metal bands today: "The lyrical content is definitely different for black metal and death metal. There is no gore or satanic related material which is all over the scene. There is a lot of variety on the album. From the fast black metal of "Conferring With Demons" and "Dismantling An Empire" to the more death metal of "The Culling" to the grooves of "As Long As I Have Myself I Am Not Alone" and "A Cry To The Perilous Sun". There should be something for fans of all metal genres to feast upon."

ORDER OF ENNEAD's self-titled debut album was recorded at Audio HammerStudios in Sanford, Florida with MARK LEWIS (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, BURYYOUR DEAD), and consists of 11 tracks of blasting death metalintensity, mixed with touches of black metal melodrama all wrapped upinto one of the most intelligent releases of the year.

ORDER OF ENNEAD is out now in Europe and will be available statesideon November 11th. You can find it as both a regular edition CD or as alimited edition CD featuring a bonus DVD with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage.

Monday, October 27, 2008

After many years of waiting, REEK OF PUTREFACTION, the seminal gory debutalbum from British grindcore/death metal legends CARCASS has been reissuedand is available again in the U.S.A!

The genre-defining 1988 debut album, REEK OF PUTREFACTION shocked the metalworld upon its original release, from its controversial cover art to thesickening lyrics. Available once again after many years out of print, REEKOF PUTREFACTION is the fourth of the five CARCASS albums to be reissued andis out now as a limited edition 2 disc CD/DVD set housed in adeluxe digipak with extra artwork. It includes 13 unreleased bonus tracksfrom the FLESH RIPPING SONIC TORMENT demo, along with part 1 of themini-documentary series entitled THE PATHOLOGIST'S REPORT as bonus videomaterial, all specially packaged in a white medical bag .

The documentary consists of interviews filmed in London and Liverpool atthe end of 2007, featuring the members of CARCASS - KEN OWEN, BILL STEER,JEFF WALKER and MICHAEL AMOTT - exploring their humble beginnings andlifting the lid on the controversy that brought the band to a wideraudience.

After years of waiting, SYMPHONIES OF SICKNESS, the second album fromBritish grindcore/death metal legends CARCASS has been reissued and is outnow in Europe.

SYMPHONIES OF SICKNESS, CARCASS' breakthrough 1989 album cemented the band'splace at the forefront of the emerging grindcore scene, and continued toshock the metal world with its gory imagery. Now available again afteryears out of print, SYMPHONIES OF SICKNESS is the last of the five CARCASSto be reissued and is out now as a limited edition DualDisc (combined CD andDVD), housed in a deluxe digipak with extra artwork and the original goreartwork inside. It includes 6 previously unreleased bonus tracks, takenfrom the SYMPHONIES OF SICKNESS demo, along with part 2 of amini-documentary series entitled THE PATHOLOGIST'S REPORT as bonus videomaterial.

Filmed in London and Liverpool at the end of 2007, the documentary consistsof interviews with the members of CARCASS - KEN OWEN, BILL STEER, JEFFWALKER and MICHAEL AMOTT - which, when combined with the other four reissuedalbums, makes up a two and a half hour documentary examining all eras of theband, from their gore-soaked grind beginnings to the more refined, melodicmoments of their later output.

Friday, October 24, 2008

UK thrashers EVILE, who are currently thrashing up the West coast of Canadawith Canadian metallers 3 INCHES OF BLOOD, have posted a tour report fromthe last leg of the tour.

EVILE lead guitarist OL DRAKE reports from the road:

"So we're pretty far into the 3 Inches of Blood tour, and it's been awesomeso far. On top of 3IoB being great guys and a great band, the scenery onthis tour is mind blowing. We definitely have to come back to Canada. TheCanadian fans are mental (in a good way), everyone's going crazy. The firstshow had one guy's face being bust open, there was blood everywhere (Iwonder how many inches of it there were).

"Some guy came up to us at the merch stand and said "I downloaded youralbum, so here's 10 dollars", which was awesome, after we kicked his head in(joking). We played at a venue called the Royal Albert Hotel in Winnipeg.Got to say the Winnipeg crowd were metal as hell. But even better than thatwas Room 309. Apparently some guy chopped some guy's head and limbs off anddisembowelled him. They never found the entrails. Also something about himstealing Susan Sarrandon's jewellery. I dunno. Google it. I have apicture of me in the bath tub where he gutted him. I'm metal/cursed.

"Thank you to all our Canadian fans who came to check us out, and all thenew fans we've made. We'll definitely be back!"

To celebrate a year since its original release, EVILE's ripping debut albumENTER THE GRAVE has been reissued as a special redux edition and isavailable in Europe now! This limited edition version of EVILE's FLEMMINGRASMUSSEN-produced (METALLICA) modern thrash masterpiece features the albumhoused in a special slipcase and includes three bonus tracks, an ENTER THEGRAVE patch, a guitar pick and a DVD. Clocking in at 2 hours, thisexclusive DVD features the band playing the entire ENTER THE GRAVE albumlive in rehearsal, plus live footage from the band's European tour withMEGADETH, extensive band interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of theband on the road!

EVILE's ENTER THE GRAVE redux edition is out now in Europe and is availableat all good music retailers, or can be purchased from the Earache RecordsEuropean Webstore at http://earacheshop.com/store/evile.html

EPHEL DUATH has never been one to take the traditional approach to creatingmusic and their latest effort takes this outlook even further. THROUGH MYDOG'S EYES is based on a bizarre concept conjured up by guitarist andfounding member DAVIDE TISO, in which the entire album is written from theperspective of a dog. TISO explains: "I wrote a few short stories and itwas really fun for me to imagine myself as a dog and to imagine the worldfrom a dog's perspective. The challenge was to translate the words intolyrics."

From opening track 'Gift', which TISO describes as being about "A cat thatthe dog kills for the owner as a gift, and he asks the owner if he is happywith the present," to the thought-provoking 'Promenade', a song about a walkin the park which takes a twist when the owner questions why he's not ascarefree and happy with life as his dog is, the barking mad brilliance runsthroughout the course of the whole album. "Every song is a window into thedog's mind or an event," TISO continues, "The album touches on a lot ofthings, both deep and sometimes silly."

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

MUNICIPAL WASTE have added a number of dates to their short October/ November U.S. run. In addition to the big dates with labelmates ORDER OF ENNEAD and fellow Virginians, LAMB OF GOD, the masters of the Inebriator are looking to bang some heads at these shows:

A brand new interview with Canadian heavy metal act CAULDRON, who recentlysigned a multi-album, worldwide deal with Earache Records, has been postedonline.

The high-energy, traditional heavy metal three-piece have built a steadyfollowing while producing a fresh heavy metal sound built out of a passionand love for the genre, and a deep understanding of the elements that gointo making memorable, straight-up metal music.

ORDER OF ENNEAD's self-titled debut album was recorded at Audio HammerStudios in Sanford, Florida with MARK LEWIS (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, BURY YOUR DEAD), and consists of 11 tracks of blasting death metal intensity, mixed with touches of black metal melodrama all wrapped up into one of the most intelligent releases of the year.

ORDER OF ENNEAD is out now in Europe and will be available stateside on November 11th. You can find it as both a regular edition CD or as a limited edition CD featuring a bonus DVD with exclusive behind-the- scenes footage.

Monday, October 20, 2008

During a break from recording their February debut, DEPTHS, Chicago deathcore heavyweights OCEANO put together a special video update. Currently in the midst of recording guitars for the upcoming album, OCEANO takes you behind the mixing boards for a candid, yet goofy look at what they've been doing so far with footage from the drum recording sessions and shots of the band hanging out around the studio. It all ends with a special message from OCEANO guitarist, Andrew Mikhail who spills the beans on possible tour plans and much more. Watch the special studio video update here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFfsqGi5KMA

ANDREW MIKHAIL, guitarist for OCEANO - the band who famously had a series ofphotos BANNED from MySpace for being too gruesome - comments on the band'sfirst week in the studio: "Things have been going great here. Drums aredone and we're currently in the process of mixing them, then we begin therest of the tracking next week. So for now, we're lifting weights, bookingtours, and playing N64 while we wait. It's still a little early to give alot of update, but the album is coming along smoothly and sounding great."

And just incase you had any doubts about it, MIKHAIL finishes, "We're mostdefinitely shooting for this CD to be one of the heaviest and darkest CDsaround!"

DEPTHS, the debut album from OCEANO, is being recorded with producer JOEYSTURGIS (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, MY CHILDREN MY BRIDE) at The FoundationStudios in Connersville, Indiana, and will feature artwork from COLIN MARKS(STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, ABORTED, WHITECHAPEL).

Due to be released in early 2009, DEPTHS will contain 13 tracks of theangriest deathcore cuts ever committed to record, alongside a limitededition bonus DVD, and will also be available as a limited edition versionwith 2 exclusive bonus tracks. The track listing for DEPTHS is as follows:

THE DIVIDING LINE, the brand new album from British crossover thrashers SSSis out now in Europe!

SSS return with their second full-length album, once again delivering aferocious mixture of classic thrash with a raw, punky attitude. THEDIVIDING LINE contains 20 tracks of ripping skate-rock anthems, with thelimited edition first pressing of the CD including a bonus DVD featuringbehind-the-scenes footage of the recording process and touring action.

Fans who purchase THE DIVIDING LINE from select indie stores across the UKwill also receive an exclusive free SKATE AND DESTROY 7" vinyl, includingfour non-album tracks. This special freebie is only available while stockslast from participating indie stores, as well as from the Earache RecordsEuropean Webstore at http://www.earacheshop.com/store/SSS.html and theEarache Records eBay store at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Earache-Records-UK

Friday, October 17, 2008

Liverpool-based crossover thrash act SSS have built a loyal following in thecity after countless gigs at venues across the area. Having released twoalbums on infamous extreme music label Earache, the band have also venturedfurther afield, taking their particular brand of punk attitude to audiencesacross Britain and into Europe.

Their career so far has afforded them a wider perspective on how Liverpoolis viewed, both from within and without the city.

Commenting on the city's current status as the 'European Capital ofCulture', bass guitarist Mark Magill explains:

"I was made up when Liverpool got European Capital of Culture '08, but itsometimes seems like a missed opportunity. Culture in Liverpool is thrivinginspite, not because, of the council. It is difficult for artists andmusicians to get anything done here. There is lack of venues for bands toplay in and a fly posting vendetta that completley misses the point of beinga cultural mecca. Liverpool brands itself on being capital of music, butshould be ashamed of the way it deals with grass roots creative talent. Thisis the same place that shut down The Cavern AND Erics. Say no more."

And responding to an article in 'The Scotsman' which suggested thatNortherners might fare better if they left their roots and moved to theSouth, Magill counters:

"Policy Exchange are completely mental. To suggest all us poor Northernersup sticks and move to Oxford and Cambridge is an idea that only somethingcalled a Think Tank could come up with. It doesn't take into account thatnot everyone has aspirations to be upper middle class like them, and I'drather kill myself than live in their reality. Nothing good will ever comeout of their money and petty status driven existence."

Views like this, based on a pride in and an exasperation with their hometown that informs much of the brand new SSS release, cryptically titled THEDIVIDING LINE. 'Cherry Island' deals with a local shopping centre, while'Street Leech' is based around the blatant drug problem in the area. 'Unrestin the Northwest' relates to the differences between shows the band play inthe North and South of the country.

THE DIVIDING LINE is released on October 20.

The band play Liverpool Barfly on October 24, and support recent NME coverstars FUCKED UP on their UK tour:

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

EPHEL DUATH has never been one to take the traditional approach to creatingmusic and their latest effort takes this outlook even further. THROUGH MYDOG'S EYES is based on a bizarre concept conjured up by guitarist andfounding member DAVIDE TISO, in which the entire album is written from theperspective of a dog. TISO explains: "I wrote a few short stories and itwas really fun for me to imagine myself as a dog and to imagine the worldfrom a dog's perspective. The challenge was to translate the words intolyrics."

From opening track 'Gift', which TISO describes as being about "A cat thatthe dog kills for the owner as a gift, and he asks the owner if he is happywith the present", to the thought-provoking 'Promenade', a song about a walkin the park which takes a twist when the owner questions himself as to whyhe's not as carefree and happy with life as his dog is, the barking madbrilliance runs throughout the course of the whole album. "Every song is awindow into the dog's mind or an event," TISO continues, "The album toucheson a lot of things, both deep and sometimes silly."

It's not only the lyrics in THROUGH MY DOG'S EYES which are written from thedog's perspective - rather the entire album, including the music, is basedaround this unique and previously unexplored concept. "The music in thiscase is the soundtrack of the thoughts of the dog - at times you can hearthe dog running," TISO elaborates.

EPHEL DUATH's musical mastery shows itself through their wide scope of workand their ability to experiment with sounds and concepts. Having workedwith both international drumming sensation MARCO MINNEMANN (PAUL GILBERT,NECROPHAGIST) as well as BEN WEINMAN of DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN on THROUGH MYDOG'S EYES, TISO notes the change in direction: "Ephel Duath was previouslya complex machine of moods. This time it's not full of differentperspectives, just one solid direction." One thing, however, has beensteady throughout EPHEL DUATH's career, from black metal to experimentalrock - the band have always been dog lovers. "I see the dog as an animalreally full of energy," TISO closes, "I imagine this dog, the dog on thealbum, as a little cantankerous and mischievous."

THROUGH MY DOG'S EYES is due to be released through EARACHE RECORDS onJanuary 26th, 2009.

Monday, October 13, 2008

To celebrate a year since its original release, UK thrashers EVILE's rippingdebut album ENTER THE GRAVE has been reissued as a special redux edition andis available in Europe now!

This limited edition version of EVILE's FLEMMING RASMUSSEN-produced(METALLICA) modern thrash masterpiece features the album housed in a specialslipcase, and includes three bonus tracks, an ENTER THE GRAVE patch, aguitar pick and a DVD. Clocking in at 2 hours, this exclusive DVD featuresthe band playing the entire ENTER THE GRAVE album live in rehearsal, pluslive footage from the band's European tour with MEGADETH, extensive bandinterviews and behind-the-scenes footage of the band on the road!

EVILE's ENTER THE GRAVE redux edition is out now in Europe and is availableat all good music retailers, or can be purchased from the EARACHE RECORDSEuropean Webstore at http://earacheshop.com/store/evile.html

Floridian extreme metal act ORDER OF ENNEAD's self-titled debut album is outnow in Europe!

ORDER OF ENNEAD features DEICIDE drummer STEVE ASHEIM, along with SCOTTPATRICK (bass), KEVIN QUIRION (vocals, guitar) and JOHN LI (guitar).

ORDER OF ENNEAD's self-titled debut album was recorded at Audio HammerStudios in Sanford, Florida with MARK LEWIS (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, BURY YOURDEAD), and consists of 11 tracks of blasting death metal intensity, mixedwith touches of black metal melodrama.

ORDER OF ENNEAD is out now in Europe and is available as a regular editionCD, or as a limited edition CD featuring a bonus DVD with exclusivebehind-the-scenes footage. It is available now at all good musicretailers, or can be purchased from the EARACHE RECORDS European Webstore athttp://www.earacheshop.com/store/orderofennead.html

Friday, October 10, 2008

Over the past month, a mighty storm has been tearing its way across Europe.The THRASHING LIKE A MANIAC European tour - featuring Irish thrashers GAMABOMB, LA shredders BONDED BY BLOOD and UK openers SWORN AMONGST - has beenrelentlessly hitting cities throughout Europe, leaving a trail of purethrash mayhem in its wake!

Now preparing to hit the UK on Monday, fans who attend the shows can now geteven more than a killer show featuring the loudest, fastest thrash bandsaround today. In every UK copy of this months issue of METAL HAMMERmagazine, readers can find an exclusive free THRASHING LIKE A MANIAC tourbackstage pass! After paying for entry to any of the upcoming UK shows,fans who flash one of these passes will gain access to a backstage areawhere they can meet the bands!

Earache Records is proud to announce the signing of Toronto, Canada'sCAULDRON to a multi-album worldwide deal.

The high energy traditional heavy metal three piece have built a steadyfollowing while producing a fresh heavy metal sound built out of a passionand love for the genre, and a deep understanding of the elements that gointo making memorable straight-up metal music.

Having already issued the 'INTO THE CAULDRON' EP to underground acclaim, theband is currently putting the finishing touches to their first full length,due for release in early 2009. The band's sound encompasses all the bestelements of classic metal, with nods to old school NWOBHM and a focus onstand out riffs and sung vocals.

"Its pretty alright. I always thought Earache was the best name for a recordlabel, and as a kid I was actually a little disappointed when I found outthat I didn't come up with it! But at least I get to be a part of it afterall! Its also nice to be a part of a catalogue that includes some of myfavourite records, like Carcass' 'Heartwork' and Cathedral's 'Forest ofEquilibrium'. I'm right into it!"

Chicago deathcore heavyweights OCEANO entered the studio on October 3rd tobegin recording one of the angriest albums ever.

ANDREW MIKHAIL, guitarist for OCEANO - the band who famously had a series ofphotos BANNED from MySpace for being too gruesome - comments on the band'sfirst week in the studio: "Things have been going great here. Drums aredone and we're currently in the process of mixing them, then we begin therest of the tracking next week. So for now, we're lifting weights, bookingtours, and playing N64 while we wait. It's still a little early to give alot of update, but the album is coming along smoothly and sounding great."

And just incase you had any doubts about it, MIKHAIL finishes, "We're mostdefinitely shooting for this CD to be one of the heaviest and darkest CDsaround!"

DEPTHS, the debut album from OCEANO, is being recorded with producer JOEYSTURGIS (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, MY CHILDREN MY BRIDE) at The FoundationStudios in Connersville, Indiana, and will feature artwork from COLIN MARKS(STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, ABORTED, WHITECHAPEL).

Due to be released in early 2009, DEPTHS will contain 13 tracks of theangriest deathcore cuts ever committed to record, alongside a limitededition bonus DVD, and will also be available as a limited edition versionwith 2 exclusive bonus tracks. The track listing for DEPTHS is as follows:

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

For too long, the city of Birmingham, UK has failed to celebrate what isrightfully theirs - to claim the city as the home of heavy metal. Now, 40years after the term "heavy metal" was coined, it's time to startcelebrating!

The city of Birmingham has spawned arguably some of the most influentialbands of all time - bands who defined genres and influenced generations. Tocelebrate this, art and music promoters CAPSULE are launching a new projectnamed "Home of Metal", with the aim of creating the first digital archive ofmusic, memorabilia and more, to tell the story of this city's unique musicalheritage.

Along with such legends as BLACK SABBATH, JUDAS PRIEST and LED ZEPPELIN,EARACHE RECORDS' very own early signings NAPALM DEATH and GODFLESH will befeatured in this special tribute to metal and the place where it allstarted.

"Home of Metal" will be launching at Wolverhampton Art Gallery on Saturday25th October, from 10:00am to 4:30pm, where rare artefacts from the earlydays of NAPALM DEATH's and GODFLESH's careers will be exhibited. Fans areinvited to come along with memorabilia and share their personal experiencesof the bands, all of which will go towards the new digital archive.

Further open days will take place on Thursday 6th November at New ArtGallery in Walsall and Saturday 7th February at the Birmingham Museum andArt Gallery. Each open day will be hosted by Kerrang! Radio DJ Johnny Doom,accompanied by special guests from the music industry, and entrance for theevents is free!

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Bands are often asked about their influences, and for OL DRAKE, leadguitarist of UK thrashers EVILE, this is something he's been getting a lotof since EVILE became one of the most talked about modern thrash bands.

OL explains:

"The one thing people always ask me at shows is 'who is your favouriteguitarist?' or 'what's your favourite guitar solo?', so I thought I'd make afew videos to show people my favourites, my influences and me just playingwhat I like to play when I'm messing around on the axe.

"Included is work by Jeff Waters (Annihilator) who was probably the biggestinfluence to me on guitar, Marty Friedman/Megadeth who made me re-evaluatemy approach to playing rhythm and lead, and Kirk Hammett (Metallica) whooriginally opened me up (ooh matron) to playing lead guitar.

"Keep checking back for new videos, I always like to take a quick break fromwriting to play some old classics!"

Relive the return of heads-down, no-nonsense thrash metal with the specialredux edition of EVILE's FLEMMING RASMUSSEN-produced (METALLICA) debutalbum, ENTER THE GRAVE, in stores on October 13th in Europe and October 28thin the US. The ENTER THE GRAVE redux celebrates a year since the album'soriginal release - during which time the band have won a series of awardsand achievements, including the Metal Hammer Readers Polls "Best New Band2007", Terrorizer Readers Polls "Best Newcomer 2007", and Metal Hammer's"Get in the Ring" TV special, as well as being listed in the Metal HammerTop 50 albums of 2007, Classic Rock's Top 50 albums of 2007 and Terrorizer'sTop 40 albums of 2007.

The limited edition ENTER THE GRAVE redux comes complete with the albumhoused in a special splipcase, three bonus tracks, an ENTER THE GRAVE patch,a guitar pick, and a 2-hour DVD including the entire album played live inrehearsal, live footage from the band's European tour with MEGADETH,extensive band interviews and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of theband on the road! Pre-order your copy now from the Earache Webstore athttp://earacheshop.com/store

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

For the past few weeks, Irish thrashers GAMA BOMB have been making their wayacross Europe on the THRASHING LIKE A MANIAC tour with LA shredders BONDEDBY BLOOD and UK support act SWORN AMONGST, spreading the good word of thrashwherever they go.

The band comments on the tour so far: "So here we are, two weeks into ourfive-week European tour. We've already come so far and done so much wecan't do it justice in a simple, mortal blog, but here goes: we started inBerlin, where we accidentally played to a neo-Nazi biker gang, then we woundthrough Europe, finding ourselves in the Italian wilderness, high in theAlps and sweltering at the far end of Portugal along the way. It's beenvery, very hot so far, but we're now encountering a cooler, NorthernEuropean leg of the tour."

Find out more about the shows, injuries and things the band have learned byreading the full tour report at http://tinyurl.com/4uvecu

Along with a night of face-melting thrash, GAMA BOMB are offering somethingelse to the fans who attend the shows: redemption. If you haven't alreadyheard, GAMA BOMB recently announced their STAMP OUT INFERIOR METAL campaign!At each show of the 10,000-mile, eleven-country THRASHING LIKE A MANIACEuropean tour, GAMA BOMB invite and encourage you to bring along the worstof your music collections - the embarrassing, the awkward and the downrightrubbish CDs, records and merchandise hidden amongst your better purchases -and to collect them together so both you and GAMA BOMB can do what shouldhave been done long ago - ritually shred, stamp and smash the living hellout of them!

With the THRASHING LIKE A MANIAC tour already well underway, it's time toconfess your sins! Grab your LINKIN PARK, LIMP BIZKIT and ORGY albums, andany other nu-metal, emo or "inferior" metal you have stashed away and bringthem out to the THRASHING LIKE A MANIAC European tour, whereupon they willbe ceremoniously smashed, stamped on, frisbee'd and generally destroyed aspart of the set, live onstage.

To start the bandwagon rolling on the STAMP OUT INFERIOR METAL campaign,EARACHE RECORDS have made a very special donation of 1,000 copies of"PLANETS" by ADEMA to this worthy cause!

Following on from the band's recent announcement of a UK tour withDOOMRIDERS and TORTUGA, SSS have also revealed that they will be playing avery special show at Zavvi in Manchester on 18th October. This will be aspecial release gig for the band's new album, THE DIVIDING LINE, and entryis completely free!

Due to be released on October 20th in Europe and November 11th in the USA,THE DIVIDING LINE is SSS's second full-length album and has the band onceagain delivering a ferocious mixture of classic thrash with a raw punkattitude, with 20 tracks of ripping, skate-friendly anthems.

In anticipation of their upcoming new album, THE DIVIDING LINE, SSS recentlymade another brand new track available for streaming. Check out the newsong, titled "Can't Burst The Bubble" at the band's MySpace page:http://www.myspace.com/shortsharpshockuk

SSS are due to appear on TOTALROCK radio this Thursday, 2nd October withesteemed journalist MALCOLM DOME to discuss the band's new album THEDIVIDING LINE, their hometown of Liverpool, thrash and their upcoming tour.Catch it online this Thursday at 3pm UK time at http://www.totalrock.com